If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Is it your opinion that those who rise to the top of a corporate or military structure are the best and the brightest people, the people of the highest character and most solid morals, the most deserving?..........

Didn't ask me, but, yeah, that's what I think, generally. That population is peppered with the odd sociopath, but generally the best and brightest rise. Sociopaths like Bernie Ebbers, Madoff, Leona Helmsley eventually fall to the bottom. System works pretty well, it seems to me.

and the sooner the left admits it, and the right acts on it, the better off we all will be.

~QC

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is hard business. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." Rudyard Kipling - (1865-1936)

Is it your opinion that those who rise to the top of a corporate or military structure are the best and the brightest people, the people of the highest character and most solid morals, the most deserving?

Or is there another path?

Well there's affirmative action...but that never works out well for anyone.

There is also inheritance and the "golden boy", and those are rarely merit systems either.

How do you feel about those filthy rich "poor" people who win the lotto? I wonder when they have enough money that they are voted off the Liberal Island?

Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.C. S. LewisDo not ever say that the desire to "do good" by force is a good motive. Neither power-lust nor stupidity are good motives. (Are you listening Barry)?:mad:Ayn Rand

Didn't ask me, but, yeah, that's what I think, generally. That population is peppered with the odd sociopath, but generally the best and brightest rise. Sociopaths like Bernie Ebbers, Madoff, Leona Helmsley eventually fall to the bottom. System works pretty well, it seems to me.

How else could it be?

the system creates the criteria by which we define the "best and brightest", which is self-serving, so that the people at the top always appear to be the "best and brightest".

every social system in history has legitimized it's power structure this way.

Originally Posted by Adam Smith - Wealth of Nations

It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion.

No, there's a significant difference between people who produce goods and services and people who seek advantage through manipulation of government.

Originally Posted by Wei Wu Wei

the system creates the criteria by which we define the "best and brightest", which is self-serving, so that the people at the top always appear to be the "best and brightest".

every social system in history has legitimized it's power structure this way.

But every system has a different criteria of what it considers its best and brightest. America's used to be accomplishment in the private sector or in service to the nation. Today, it's about punching your ticket at the "right" schools and then filling your resume in government jobs, even if you don't actually accomplish anything.

There is also inheritance and the "golden boy", and those are rarely merit systems either.

The US is the land of opportunity. If you do not think so, what country does. Problem with bottom feeders who have no ambition and don't want to work hard, they will remain bottom feeders and never rise to the top.

People that have a sizable inheritance have already paid taxes on that money. Why should the government have a right to any of it. Oh, that's right, you are a liberal who believes that the government needs to steal from the haves and give to the have nots.

True. So what you do is give the school staff the power to stop whatever happens. If it's verbal teasing, you give them the power to tell the kids to stop it. If it's rock throwing, you give them the...